SOIR NOIR: A Nightclub Confidential – The Crazy Coqs, London

SOIR NOIR is a stylish evening of song and storytelling that channels intimate American soirees with wit, warmth, and a contemporary flair.

SOIR NOIR at The Crazy Coqs

The almost inexhaustible number of venues in London is one of its enduring wonders. There’s always somewhere you haven’t quite been yet, or some corner of culture waiting to be lit just right. Today’s hidden gem? The Crazy Coqs. If you haven’t yet wandered into this plush Art Deco hideaway next to Brasserie Zédel, perhaps you’ve at least sipped something at the Bar Américain next door. It’s a place that seems ready for stories to unfold. Where the martinis are crisp and the ghosts of mid-century glamour are ever present.

On this particular evening, that glamour wasn’t just a feeling — it was centre stage. SOIR NOIR, created by David Rhodes and commissioned for the 2024 Provincetown Cabaretfest, made its European debut in style. And though the show’s Provincetown roots were proudly worn on its sleeve, it slipped seamlessly into this London setting, as though Cape Cod and Piccadilly were more connected than one might think.

SOIR NOIR is a cabaret in the best sense: intimate, intelligent, and a little bit flirty. With music direction from the deft Simon Beck, and featuring a guest appearance by Jake Oswell (a standout talent), the evening wove a rich tapestry of songs that paid homage to the American nightclub and soirée tradition while still managing to feel modern. This was no pastiche, but a loving continuation.

There’s something eternally magnetic about the golden age of American nightclubs. The era when supper clubs and smoky lounges were temples of cool. The greats of that time – Nat King Cole, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald – brought wit, charm, and sheer musicality to songs that have become part of our collective cultural DNA. SOIR NOIR tapped into that same wellspring of emotion, style, and subtle storytelling.

A Glimpse of Glamour, a Whisper of Jazz

Classics like How High the Moon, Mack the Knife, and Miss Otis Regrets received sensitive treatments, while a Cole Porter medley reminded us just how sophisticated the American Songbook can be. Rhodes’s affection for this repertoire is clear: he sings as one who knows not just the notes, but the subtext. There’s even room for a smoky Dusty Springfield nod, a languid take on What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life, and a witty, perfectly delivered I’m Hip – a song that manages to wink and smirk without overdoing it.

Oswell’s contribution was a particular highlight. Their rendition of I’ll Plant My Own Tree (yes, from Valley of the Dolls) was a triumph. Poised, emotionally shaded, and with just enough theatrical restraint to give it real power. There’s clearly more to come from this performer.

Rhodes, meanwhile, is a consummate storyteller. Between numbers, he offers gentle reflections, personal anecdotes, and well-placed quips — including a brief reminiscence about his own time in London and ties to Noël Coward, before launching into I Went to a Marvelous Party. The show closes with a nod back to Provincetown, tying the whole journey, from Cape Cod to the Coqs, together.

It’s a compact show (just over an hour) but there’s something generous in its simplicity. No big tricks or tired tropes, just songs well performed, stories well told, and the unmistakable thrill of live performance in a room that seems to have been built for it.

Unfortunately for you, this particular combination of SOIR NOIR and The Crazy Coqs was a one-night-only affair. But a future performance would definitely be worth seeking out, and The Crazy Coqs itself boasts a robust calendar of events. If you get the chance to see SOIR NOIR, do. It’s the kind of evening that reminds you why these songs still endure: because they speak to longing, elegance, resilience… and because, when performed with heart, they still feel like they’re being sung just for you.

Salterton Arts Review’s rating: 3.5/5

SOIR NOIR was at The Crazy Coqs on 16 April 2025.